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V 1 c. WAHL.

AUTOMATIC HEM COUNTER FOR CALCULATING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. l. 1913. V 1,3173467;v PatentedSept. 30, 1919.

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J. C. WAHL.

AUTOMATIC ITEM COUNTER FOR CALCULATING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.1. [913. 1 ,3 1 7,467 Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. WAHL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WAHL COMPANY, OF WILMING- TON, DELAWARE, A. CORPORATION.

AUTOMATIC ITEM-COUNTER. FOR QALCULATING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. WAHL, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Item- Counters for Calculating-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is'an automatic item counter for calculating machines. One of the objects of my invention is'the provision of a counter, preferably associated with the calculating machine totalizer, to indicate the. number of items which have been entered in the totalizer.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for actuating the counter as an incident of the operations necessary to enter a number in the calculating machine.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a counter suitable for use with a calculating machine of the type in which the several digits of the number are entered seriati/m into a totalizer by a single master wheel. A calculating machine of this type -is shown and fully described in my Patent Number 893,719, issued July 21, 1908.

A further-ob1ect of my invention is the provision of a counter whose re istration is not made until the occurrence 0 two operations necessary to enter a number in a calculating machine of the type referred to above. Thus erroneous registrationsdue to the accidental repetition of one of the said operations is avoided. More particularly mv counter does not register until both a digit has been entered in the units place and the totalizer has been wholly traversed by the master wheel. The failure of either one of these events prevents registration, also repetition, of either event without the concurrence of the other will not result in a double registration of the counter.

TA further object of'my invention is the provision of an item counter associated with the totalizer, the two forming asingle unit convenient for handling.

A further object of my invention "is to provide .a coii'nter which is simple, easy of manufacture and positive in its operation.

Further objects of my invention will appear in the novelty and arrangement of the parts as hereinafter described and claimed. My in entlon may be understood by refshafts 7 and 8, connect the carrying Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 30, 191Q Application filed February 1, 1913. Serial No. 745,758.

erence to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a sectional view along the lines 1-1, of Fig: 3.

' Fig. 2 is a top view;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale.

Fi 4 is a sectional view (on a-reduced scale along the line 4-4, Fig. 3.

As above stated, my invention is particularly designed to be used in connection with the calculating machine described in my aforementioned patent. Reference thereto (Fig. 3) will show a totalizer mounted on a typewriter carriage, a set of numeral keys, any one of which serve to operate a master wheel 49 and .a master dog 208. Also that the depression of a key including the zero key results in the master wheel 49'and the dog 208 moving in the following sequence:

(a) Dog 208 moves in a clockwise direction, thusunlocking the chain of the totalizer gears at the actuated gear.

(b) The master wheel rotates an amount depending on the key actuated.

(a) The dog. returns to the original position.

(d) The carriage escapes, bringing the totalizer wheel of the next lower order into engagement with the master Wheel.

Since the mechanism for producing these various motions is very thoroughly described in the patent referred to, I shall not now enter into a further description of such mechanism but shall start the description of my present invention, assuming that actuation of a typewriter numeral key results in the master wheel, master dog and carriage moving in. the sequence recited above. The master wheel numbered 49 and the master dog 208 in this application correspond in function to the master wheel and master dog bearing the same-numbers in my patent above referred to.

Mounted between the side plates 1 and 2 is shown a totalizer constructed according to the disclosure of my abovementioned patent.

A set of carrying wheels 3 ,loosely mounted on a shaft 4 are adapted to cooperate seriatim with a master wheel 49 rotatably mounted in the framework. A set of carriable gears 5 pivoted at 14 on swinging arms 6, which are loosely mounted on ears 3. The swing ng arms 6 have he ls 9' a ptw ed to be engaged seriatim by the master dog 208. The carrying gears 3 are provided with usual carrying teeth, which cooperate with the carriable gears 5 and transfer the tens at the proper time. The chain of gearing composed of the carrying ears 3 and carriable gears 5 is normally docked. In order to operate a carrying gear at the middle of the chain the master 'dog 208 acts on a swinging arm 6, thereby raising the carriable gear 5 out of mesh with the assoc-iated carrying gears 3, thus unlocking the actuated carrying wheel from the adjacent one to the right. The swinging arm 6 which cooperates with the carrying gear 3 in the units place is not provided with a carriable gear 5 but with a locking nose 10 and an extension 11, in which is mounted a pin 12, whose function will be described later.

The totalizer is mounted on a truck 13 moving with the typewriter carriage. Num-- bers are inserted in the totalizer by the master wheel one digit at a time, beginning with the digit in the highest place and ending with the digit in the units place. During the insertion of a number the typewriter carriage escapes step by step to the left, thus bringing successive carrying wheels 3 in mesh with the master wheel 49 and successive swinging arms 6 into engagement with the master dog 208. When the digit in the units place is inserted the swinging arm 6 (Fig. 4) having the locking nose 10 and the pin 12 is first rotated by the master dog 208 in a clockwise direction, the master wheel then turns a number of steps dependent on the particular numeral key depressed, the master dog 208 and contacting arm 6 then return to their normal position, and the carriage escapes.

The foregoing will be recognized as the operation and structure of the adding and subtracting machine described in my atent above referred to. I shall now descri e the parts peculiar to my present invention.

Suitably supported rigid with the side plates 1 and 2 is the side plate 15. The counter mechanism is mounted between the plates 2 and 15. Loosely mounted on a shaft 16 (Figs. 1 and 3) are two counter wheels 17 and 18 bearing numerals. Rigid with the wheel 17 is a locking disk 19, a drivable ratchet 20 and a restoring ratchet 21. A similar set of parts numbered 22, 23 and 24 respectively are associated with the wheel 18.

An arm 25 having a roller 26 pivoted at 27 is fulcrumed on a stud 28 riveted in the side plate 2. The roller 26 is in the same plane as the locking disk 22 and is held in contact therewith by a spring 29,fthus serving to hold the counter wheel in alinement. A, similar set of parts, consisting of arm 30, roller 31, pivot 32 and spring 33, work about a fulcrum at 34 on the side plate 15 and perform a like function for the counter wheel 17.

Reference to Fig. 3 shows that the driving ratchets 20 and 23 are so positioned on their respective counter wheels 17 and 18 that both are adapted to be engaged by a wide driving pawl 35. This pawl 35 is pivoted at 36 to an arm 37 rigid with a shaft 38 fulcrumed between the side plates 1 and 15. The pawl 35 is held in contact with the wheel 23 by gravity. Obviously rocking of the shaft 38 results in a step bystep rotation of the driving ratchet 23 and associated counter wheel 18.

The driving ratchet 20 attached to the counter wheel 17 is smaller than the root diameter of the driving ratchet 23; consequently the pawl 35 is normally held from actuating the driving ratchet 20. However the ratchet 23 has one tooth space out deep enough to allow the pawl 35 to engage the wheel 20 when the pawl 35 is in such deep tooth space. At that time rocking of the shaft 38 will advance both wheels; consequently the counter wheel 17 advances one space for each revolution of the counter wheel 18 and since both have ten spaces the combination of the two wheels will register numbers from 0 to 99 inclusive.

1 shall now describe the means whereby the entering of a number into the totalizer results in rocking the shaft 38. Rigid on this shaft are two arms 39 and 40. Arm 39 (shown in Fig. 4) is actuated by the pin 12 which, it will be remembered, is rigid with the rocker arm 6 in the units place of the totalizer. The arm 40 cooperates with a detent 41 fulcrumed at 42 in the framework and is given a tendency to rotate in a clockwise direction bya spring 43. The lower end of the detent 41 is connected by a pivoted link 44 to the vertical arm 45 of a bell crank fulcrumed in the framework at 46. The spring 29, previously mentioned in connection with the arm 25, is fastened to the arm 45 and through the connecting link 44 tends to hold the detent 41 against a stop 47.

When the master wheel 49 inserts a digit in the units place of the totalizer the units arm 6 on which the pin 12 is mounted is then in position to be actuated by the master dog 208 and will be swung thereby prior to the rotation of the master wheel 49, as previously noted. The pin 12 acting on the arm 39 will rock the shaft 38 advancing one or both of the counter wheels 17 and 18 by means of the pawl 35. Such rocking of the shaft will hook the arm 40 on the detent 41. lVhile the arm 40 is in this hooked position subsequent swinging of the arm 6 then in the units place of the totalizer will be ineffective on the counter.

For the purpose of unhookiiig the arm 40, thus placing the parts in a position for another registration a horizontalarm 48 of the bell crank is provided with a cam extension 59 in a plane at ri ht angles to the plane of the bell crank. his cam 59 coiiperates with an extension 50 on the framework. After the digit in the units place has been inserted and the item registered on the counter by the consequent rocking of the shaft 38, the typewriter carriage and attached totalizer is manually moved to the right prior to the insertion of a new number. The exten sion 50 then acts on the cam 59, thus-rocking the bell crank-on its fulcrum 46, and by means of the link 44 moving the detent 41,

thereby unlocking the arm'40, which, under the influence of the spring 43, returns to its normal osition carrying the pawl 35 and arm 39 wit it. The parts are now in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 4 ready for another registration. It is to be noted that the extension 50 is so placed in relation to the master wheel and the cam 59, so placed with reference to the carrying wheel of the highest place in the totalizer that the totalizer must be moved beyond the point at which the master wheel will engage the care rying wheel hereinbefore mentioned, before the detent 41 is unlocked. This is to insure that the master wheel will make a complete transverse of the totalizer carrying wheels 'before the counter actuating mechanism is put in position for another registration.

It Wlll be noticed that inorder to make a registration of the counter the sequence of ftwo events irisertion of a digit in the units place and su sequent return of the carriage-is necessary. Repetition of either will not actuate the counter a second time. There remains to describe the means by which the counter is reset to zero. A plate 52 is riveted to the side plates 2 and 5. Slidably mounted on the plate 52 uided by pins 53 is a rack 54 provided wit a series of nine ratchet teeth 55 adapted to engage both the restoring ratchets 21 and. 24. A spring 56; passing over a roller 57 tends to hold thera'ck 54 in a position where its teeth 55 are out of contact with the restoring ratchets 21 and 24. A handle 58 attached to the rack furnishes means to pull it to the right. The restoring ratchets 21 and 24 have each one tooth missing, consequently moving the rack 54 to the right will engage the teeth of both wheels 21 and 24 and turn them and their as sociated counters 17 and 18 in a clockwise direction until the missing tooth of either wheel is reached Such a wheel will then sto and further motion of the rack 55 will be ineffective on it. And since the position of the missing teeth on both wheels corresponds to the zero position of the counter wheels it will be seen that a single reciprocation of the rack 54 will reset the counter wheels to zero.

The mechanism of the combined totalizer and counter is protected by a suitable cover (not shown) having windows through which the counter wheels 17 and 18 and the totalizer number wheels may be read.

It is obvious that while I have shown the counter as having but two wheels, thereby registerin to 99, more wheels could be added if esired. Such an addition could be easil made by those skilled in the art.

W ile I have shown my counter actuated when the master wheel acts in the units place and the counter actuating means restored to its operating position by the motion of the decimal carriage it is obvious that these functions could be interchanged; that is, the counter actuated by the motion of the decimal carriage and the actuating mechanism restored by the insertion of a digit in the totalizer. But these, and many other changes and modifications may be made in the precise form, arrangement and structure of the device herein described without departing from the spirit of my invention since I claim:

1. In a calculating machine, the combination of a totalizer, an item counter and mechanism common to said totalizer and counter for operatingthe same, said mechanism comprising devices operating only in a cycle of separate and different steps whereby the counter is rendered non-responsive to a repetition of either of said steps.

2. In a calculating machine, the combination of a totalizer, an item counter, a set of digit keys, and a common operatin mechanism connecting the digit keys with said totalizer and item counter whereby the actuation of the digit keys to enter a number of any magnitude in said totalizer simultaneously enters a unit in said counter.

3. In a calculating machine, the combination of: atotalizer; an item counter; tototalizer actuating mechanism adapted to enter numbers in said totalizer one decimal place at a time; and means connecting said actuating mechanism with said item counter whereby an actuation of said actuating mechanism to enter a number ofany magnitude in said totalizer may enter a unit in said counter.

. 4. In a calculating machine the combination of: a totalizer; means to insert a number therein digit. by digit; a set of counter wheels; a pawl and ratchet mechanism for advancing said counter wheels; and means to advance said counter wheels one step coincident with the insertion of a plurality of digits in said totalizer.

5. In a calculating'machine the combination of a totalizer, means to insert a number therein digit by digit. two counter wheels, pawl and ratchet mechanism for advancing said Wheels, means associated with said Wheels detennining Whether one or both Wheels shall be advanced by said pawl and ratchet mechanism, and a decimal carriage adapted to bring said pawl and ratchet mechanism into operation with said number inserting means when said decimal carriage is in a certain position. i

6. In a calculating machine, the combination of: a totalizer; an item counter; and means for inserting a number into said totalizer digit by digit and registering one unit on said item counter as an incident of said insertion.

7. In a. calculating machine, the combination of: a totalizer; an item counter; a set of digit keys; and means operated by said digit keys for inserting a number into said totalizer digit by digit and registering one unito'n said item counter as an incident of said insertion. 1

8. In a calculating machine, the combination of: a totalizer; an item counter; a set of digit keys; printing mechanism operable by said keys; and means operated by said digit keys for inserting a number into said totalizer digit by digit and registering one unit on said item counter as an incident of said insertion.

9. In a calculating machine, the combination of a totalizer, means to insert a number therein digit by digit,'said means including a universal member adapted to be moved each time the digitof a number is inserted, a set of counter wheels and an operating mechanism therefor adapted to be actuated by said number inserting means.-

10. In a calculating machine, the combination of: a totalizer; means to insert a number therein digit by digit; and an item counter therefor adapted to be actuated by said number-inserting means when said numberinserting means .is operating on the units place of th tota izer.

1-. In a calculating machine, the combination of: a totalizer; means to insert a numbertherein digit by digit; an item counter therefor adapted to be actuated by said number-inserting means When said numberinserting means is operating on the units place of the totalizer; and a detent adaptedto hold said counter-actuating mechanism in its actuated position.

12. In a calculating machine, the combination of: a decimal carriage, a totalizer; an item counter; operating mechanism for said totalizer adapted to insert numbers in said totalizer digit by digit; operating mechanism for said item counter adapted to be actuated by said totalizer-operatln mechanism; and means controlled by said decimal carriage to render said counter-operating mechanism inoperative.

13. In a calculating machine, the combination of: a decimal carriage; a totalizer, an

item counter; operating mechanism for said totalizer adapted to insert numbers in said totalizer digit by digit; operating mechanism for said item counter adapted to be actuated by said totalizer-operating mechanism; and a detent controlled by said decimal carriage to render said counter-operating mechanism inoperative.

In a calculating machine, the combination of: a decimal carriage; a combined totalizer and item counter mounted thereon; operating mechanism for said totalizer adapted to insert numbers in said totalizer digit by digit; operating mechanism for said counter adapted to be actuated by said tot-alizer-operating mechanism; and a detent controlled by said decimal carriage and adapted to hold said counter-operating mechanism inoperative when said decimal carriage is in a certain position.

15. In a calculating machine, the combinationof: a decimal carriage, a combined totalizer and item counter mounted thereon; operating mechanism for said totalizer adapted to insert numbers in said totalizer digit by digit; operating mechanism for said counter adapted to be actuated by said totalizer-operating mechanism; a detent controlled by said decimal carriage and adapted to hold said counter-operating mechanism inoperative when said decimal carriage is in a certain position; and means controlled by said decimal carriage to release said detent.

16. In a calculating machine, the combination of: a decimal carriage; a totalizer; an item counter mounted thereon said totalizer and item counter comprising a single unit; operating mechanism for said totalizer adapted to insert numbers in said totalizer digit by digit; operating mechanism for said counter adapted to be actuated by said totalizer-operating mechanism; and a detent controlled by said decimal carriage and adapted to hold said counter-operating mechanism inoperative when said decimal carriage is in a certain position.

17. In a calculating machine, the combina tion-of: a decimal carriage; a totalizer, an item counter mounted on said carriage, the totalizer and item counter comprising a single unit, operating mechanism for said totalizer adapted to insert numbers in said totalizer digit by digit; operating mechanism for said counteradapted to be actuated by said totalizer-operating mechanism; a detent controlled by said decimal carriage and adapted to hold said counter-operating mechanism inoperative when said decimal carriage is in a certain position; and means controlled by said decimal carriage to release said'detent. 7

18'. In a calculating machine, the combination of: a decimal carriage; a totalizer; number-inserting mechanism adapted to insert numbers in said totalizer digit by digit;

t e steps being determined by the numberinsertingmechenism and the occurrence of the other of said stepsheing determined by said decimal carnage.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

J OHN C. WAHL. Witnesses:

R. GEO. C. BoA, ARTHUR F. POOLE. 

